metalepses

/mɛtəˈlepsɪz/

Definitions

1. noun

A rhetorical device in which a word or phrase is used to refer to its own use or occurrence, often to create a sense of self-reference or meta-level commentary.

“The story relied on metalepses to blur the lines between reality and fiction, leaving the reader questioning what was real and what was not.”

Synonyms

  • meta-commentary
  • self-reference

Antonyms

  • literalism
  • straightforwardness